Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD, WAM)
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has rejected Sudan's case against the UAE and removed it from its general list of cases to adjudicate.
Judge Yuji Iwasawa delivered the verdict on the case filed by Sudan on March 5, 2025, in a hearing on Monday, May 5, 2025, at The Hague.
The UAE has welcomed the decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to dismiss the case filed by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the UAE, citing a manifest lack of jurisdiction. With the court's ruling, the case has been removed from its list, formally terminating the proceedings.
Judge Yuji Iwasawa said, "The court concludes from the foregoing that, having regard to the UAE’s reservation to Article 9 of the Genocide Convention, this article cannot constitute, prima facie, a basis for the jurisdiction of the court in the present case. It follows that the court, lacking prima facie jurisdiction to entertain Sudan’s application, cannot indicate the provisional measures requested in order to protect the rights invoked in the application submitted by Sudan."
"The court further considers that in light of the reservation made by the UAE to the compromissory clause contained in Article 9 of the Genocide Convention, and in the absence of any other basis of jurisdiction, the court manifestly lacks jurisdiction to entertain Sudan’s application," the judge said.
He added, "In a system of consensual jurisdiction, to maintain on the general list a case, upon which it appears certain that the court will not be able to adjudicate on the merits, would not contribute to the sound administration of justice. The present case will therefore be removed from the general list."
In a statement released on WAM, the UAE said, "This outcome reaffirms what has long been clear: the SAF’s case is unfounded and lacks any basis. The UAE has consistently rejected SAF’s fabrications, which serve as a transparent attempt to divert attention from their own actions and the ongoing atrocities in Sudan."
In a statement, Reem Ketait, Deputy Assistant Minister of Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UAE Co-Agent, said, "The decision is a clear and decisive affirmation of the fact that this case was utterly baseless. Quite simply, today’s decision represents a resounding rejection of SAF’s attempt to instrumentalise the court for its campaign of misinformation and to distract from its own responsibility.
"As Sudan’s devastating civil war enters its third year, the UAE calls on the SAF and RSF to end the war without preconditions, commit to negotiations, and allow unhindered humanitarian access. The international community must act decisively to help facilitate a civilian-led political process, independent from military control, and hold perpetrators of atrocities accountable."
"We will continue to work with regional and international partners to advance collective action to build a peaceful and prosperous future for the Sudanese people," Ketait concluded.
